On the hunt for some good books

Good afternoon!

I have a favour to ask of you sweet sis ... can you recommed any good early childhood books. Along the lines of Rupunzels supermarket?

Please ....

Thank you xxx

Gurrumul - Gopuru

Just wanted to share one more song with you that I am also loving at the mo!

Gurrumul - Gopuru

Love you xoxoxo

Just had to share it.....

Love it!

Love you!

Holly Throsby

Hello Poppet!

I am absolutely in love with Holly Throsby at the moment, and noticed she had a few free shows in Sydney soon, that I thought Ike and Nina might enjoy!

 

HOLLY THROSBY PRESENTS SEE! (An Album of Original Children’s Songs)
Sydney Festvial, 2012

Saturday, January 7
Sydney Festival First Night
Hyde Park
4pm, free

Thursday, January 12
The Famous Spiegeltent
10am and 11:30am
Tickets and more information

Friday, January 13
The Famous Spiegeltent
10am and 11:30am
Tickets and more information

Saturday, Janurary 14
Sydney Festival Parramatta - Parra Opening Night
Prince Alfred Park, Parramatta
4pm, free

And, of course i couldn't let this post go by without sharing a sample of one of her songs! (I don't think the video does it much justice. listen to it with your eyes closed ;)

Love love xoxoxox

What is Love?

Today I asked my Kindy group what they thought love was. I just had to share some of their responses with you.........

Tomas- Love is when you have a girlfriend, but sometimes if you have a girlfriend your heart breaks

Mateo - Love is inside your house and did you know it is invisible?

Hamish - Love is when you stay together

Oscar - love is for kissing and hugging and doing the very best things!

Ava - Love is inside you and it is for everyone.

Mark - Love is when I get ice cream.


Enjoy! Wonder what Ike and Nina think love is?


Xoxoxo

Some inspiration for an Artist

Ok ... this is a follow up on our conversation earlier in the week about career, future direction, art and the like and I thought I would go out on a limb and hopefully not embarass you by sharing a couple of things in the hope to inspire and encourage you. I hope that is ok?

Firstly there is a great little studio in Mudgee, the Mud Factory, which offer Art classes for both adults and children. I thought you might be interested in them ... I have always been curious to know a little more about what they do. The intention of sharing this with you is not to intimidate you but rather to inspire! If it does that's great ... if it doesn't, that's fine too. Just thought i'd share. So please check out http://www.themudfactory.com.au/themudfactory/themudfactory-home.html

Secondly I wanted to direct you over to a blog you might be interested in - i've enjoyed reading it over the last couple of days. She has a great little (free) e-book that I read today actually "You are an artist, what will you create". It is worth a look ... you can find it here...
http://www.messycanvas.com/bookstore/

I hope that these inspire you a little ... just for the record I think you're amazing and I truly believe in you and think you can do anything! I back you all the way!

Love you xx

Music of the week

I know, I know ... "More Music?!?" I hear you say! I'm quite sure you are over my old lady music 'finds' (which I know half the time you have discovered a year or two before me:)) but I couldn't resist sharing my two fav picks of the week with you. Poor Ike and Nina have had to listen to them on repeat. You remember how we used to do that together when we were young??

So here they are ... I hope you enjoy!

Love xx

And another one ...

Missing you ...

Just wanted to say 'hi' and tell you i'm missing you. Aren't you a little spunkster?!? Wish we could hang out today.

Love you xx

Roar!!!

As I walked to the library yesterday I happened to pass our much loved childhood space of the Museum - you know, with the big dinosaurs outside......

Then I see it is closed for refurbishment, and in a slight state of panic I held grave concerns for the future of those dinosaurs that are so iconic to the museum! I know you would have been concerned also, however we needn't have worried because...... 

I got the inside word from one of the tradies on site, that the dinosaurs are here to stay! 

Ike and Nina still have a chance to experience their amazingness ;)

Much love xoxox

Nothing like the smell of fresh bread....

Whipped up a batch of Wholemeal Pecan and Apricot bread last night.....

I simply devour the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven .......

(I think I should sell the line above to Nigella!)

And enjoyed it toasted this morning, topped with Ricotta, sliced pear and a drizzle of honey. 

Mmmmmmmmmmmm. xo

Nantes

Hello there lovely ... a tune to bring a smile to your beautiful face!

Beirut is playing at the Opera House in January while I am frolicking up in Queensland:). Thought I'd make up for what i'm missing out on so we've been listening to this a lot today!

Enjoy ... xxx

I'm Back!

Hello Darling girl!

So sorry for my mega absence lately! New job is proving to be all consuming.....even on days off! 

Despite all of this, here I am to announce my ongoing commitment to keeping in touch and sharing bits of my world with you via our awesome blog :) 

Missing you ALL lots! 

Sending flowers and all things nice your way.

Watch this space...........

Love Love xoxoxo

Love Lace

So today we trundled off to the powerhouse museum to see the love lace exhibition (you know where we ended up after that but I prefer not to bring that up:)). I wasn't sure what to expect but it was just simply beautiful! The work I saw was so amazing and detailed and intricate. I could have spent hours in there going over each and every piece but alas it was a little tricky with two little ones at my side. Perhaps I will have to venture back there on my own one day soon.

See more of the artists and their work here.

Enjoy xx

Waking up full of awesome

Hi there ... just wanted to share this link with you ... I thought it was fabulous and something I think we should both remember. Doesn't that girl have some serious spunk!?!? As do we of course!

Love you ... you are full of awesome xx

Twice around the sun

So, our little Nina has just celebrated her second birthday! It was a lovely day and I hope Nina felt loved and celebrated. She's at the age where she is beginning to understand birthdays but really a birthday just equals cake! Why not?!? That's half the fun isn't it?



On a personal note I have found myself rather teary leading up to and following her birthday ... she is no longer a baby but becoming a little girl. I also felt sad that I might never carry a child again. I was reminded of the morning she was born in all her pinky perfection, rosebud lips and dark, dark hair. And then bringing her back to her home where she belonged to bask in the warmth and love reserved for Nina alone. I wish I could hold her close as a wee baby for much longer than I have but it seems she has already traveled twice around the sun ... time keeps ticking.


(the day before Nina was born)

I want to say be strong and courageous and compassionate as you go forward little Nin ... we look forward to another years journey with you. What words of wisdom would you offer to a little girl Emi? ... xx

Warm Heart

Was just feeling really flat and jumped on here to discover your two beautiful posts, that made my heart warm with joy! 

Thank you! 

Sunshine

It's morning, the sun shines. We move outside. We are together, all of us. We potter, we talk, we laugh and we hungrily soak up what sunhine we can while it lasts.



Photo courtesy of Ike. xx

When sleep takes over

A busy day, an afternoon snuggle together on our bed, some books and before long, two sleeping babes.

Wish you were here.......

We miss all of you every day, but we particularly missed you on Saturday! 

Wish you could have been there xoxox

Confession Time

I strayed from my sugar free path today to indulge in Dragonfruit and Lime Sorbet!

How could I resist? 

Sharing the Blog Love!

Being the fabulous, intelligent, creative and reflective Mum that you are, I thought you might enjoy this blog -  Let the Children Play! 

I have been absorbed in it for most of this week!

Love xoxo

Green Spaces

Hello Fabulous One! 

Just arrived in Cairns today and made our first stop the Botanical Gardens - beautiful!

Love you xo

Holidays - part 2

Ok ... holiday was now 2 weeks ago and I didn't at all follow up on the holiday installments! Never the less I have been reminising about the first couple of days of our break when we had stopped by a river in the country content to throw stones into the water at dusk. It was so very peaceful ...



May all the travel be going well ... we'll see you soon in the motherland! xx

Goodbye, Farewell.........

Hello lovely one! I am spending my last night in Munich this evening. I have just enjoyed a lovely meal at an amazing Vietnamese Restaurant with Beck and Ben, and am enjoying a glass of champagne before I head off to bed!

See you soon!!!! xoxo

Here comes summer - longboard pintails

Although it is still quite chilly here, there is no denying there is a feeling of spring in the air. Yeah ... bring it on! I've been thinking of you as you are about to head back to an Australian summer and so wanted to share this song with you. It's one of Ike and my favourites (and has me contemplating taking up long boarding!)



Love you xx

Holidays - part 1

Hello sweetpea ... We are home from two week holiday. What a wonderful time we had visiting our two lovely sisters and their families. 2000km by car! Wow! We did it ... there were tears of boredom from the backseat at times but all in all we had a great time. Am disappointed to say that on our return I have realised that not only is our camera even worse than before but being the forgetful self I am (and enjoying the company of Jan and Claire too much) I forgot to take very many photos!! I am depending on Jan for some and maybe between us Claire and I will put some together too. I will leave you with a wee video we took of the kids at Claire's. More to come from Jan's ...




Keep your eye on Tommy x

Good Eggs

Had to share this pic with you, courtesy of Sandy. The remnants of her breakfast - eggs courtesy of her friend, Lucy's beautiful chooks!

It was sent to me accompanied with this message

'Even broken things are beautiful!'

Love Love xoxoxo

Blueberries, honey and all things nice!

With the recent decision to give up sugar (except natural sugars - fruit and honey) I have been indulging in the following........

Natural yoghurt, plump blueberries and a drizzling of honey!

Lecker!!!

Love love xoxox

Cycling Dreams

I have been really excited about to returning to my beloved bikes that have been very well cared for by the lovely Tim & Sandy. As a result I have been back into the habit of checking one of my favorite blogs again -  London Cycle Chic, and thought I would share! 

Obviously tweed coats and the sort aren't really suitable attire for riding a bike around sunny Queensland, but a girl can dream! 

Love Love xo

Procrastination

My body desperately requires me to head out for some form of physical activity, but there is that little voice in my head going -'just do it tomorrow'. So whilst I try and decide which I will listen to I thought I would drop by and say hello!

Hope you are having a beautiful day! 

Love Love xoxoxoxo

Wow Factor

This is Konigsplatz at the end of my street, and I remember the very first time I saw it and being in awe. I imagined all those lucky people who got to ride past this every day! 

Now I am one of those people and I do ride past it all the time, but I realised that I have become a bit complacent about it, I had forgotten to see the beauty in it. It had become a norm. 

In an attempt to see things afresh I snapped away at all the things I would want to show you on my ride into the city.............here are a few of the sights my eyes feast on!

Beautiful! Enjoy!

Love love xo

Oh, the possibilities!

Thought you would like this one........

A friend of mine, sent me through these pics of a birthday cake that was sent in for a birthday celebration at Kindy. .................. 

These pics have not been edited - this is the TRUE colour of the icing........

That icing + 18 x 3 year olds = ?????

Love love xo

Good Morning Sunshine!

Just enjoying a glorious morning of sunshine (something I haven't seen for a wee while) and a strong coffee. No better way to start the day :) 

Love xoxox

Take That!

I am sure you have heard the breaking news that Take That are currently doing a reunion tour, which was in Munich last night.

The radio stations here like to celebrate whoever is performing in Munich by playing their songs ALL day. So after a good half hour of listening to Take That, yesterday, I suggested to Jamie (the 2 year old I hang out with all day) that perhaps we could have a break from the radio? He refused, claiming he liked the music! Knowing that in order to survive any more Take That, that I would need to adopt some coping strategies and I decided to teach Jamie some of the likely moves that Take That would have whipped out back in the day (I, of course was just guessing as I was never into Take That - I know you would know much more about them than I, so, apologies for any mistakes I may make ;P).

I think I recognize this poster from your wall?

So, as I get uber involved in my tragic 90's dance sequence, Jamie starts killing himself laughing thinking it was hilarious. This is all the encouragement I need to keep on performing. It was only when I heard the applause that I realize that the performance was not only entertaining Jamie, but also a crew of five workmen who had just appeared outside!!!!! How embarrassment!! Not sure what feedback I got back from them, thanks to the language barrier, but I am pretty sure they were in awe of my wicked moves! Probably wanted to sign me up for Justin Timberlake or something - you know how it is. Sometimes it's tough being so cool.

I know you are bursting to bust a move now, so I found these instructions for you!

Love love xoxo

The Plum Fiasco.....

Before Chris left for Switzerland I asked if he could pick up some fruit for me to eat during the week. As a result I arrived home to discover 5 bananas, 6 apples, blueberries, oranges and........2kg of plums! 

Bless his socks, he really did not want me to starve!

I do love to indulge in fresh fruit, but imagine what 2kg of plums would do to my system!!! 

And so as my pathetic attempt to eat them during the week, led to only a tiny dent in the pile of juicy velvet fruit I decided I needed to do something with them........

pitted and purple 

A few blueberries for good measure

Look at the amazing colour that seeped out of the skin!

It's a Hubba Bubba  colour feast!

Mouth watering goodness!

Jarred and ready to mix through some yoghurt!

Delicious!

Love love xoxoxo